Stella “I’ll come with you, but I have some conditions,” Bolin said. “Which are?” Eric asked. Bolin faced me and held out his palm....

Fernando “Valeria,” I called. My sister turned toward the sound of my voice, but remained seated at her desk. She’d been practicing...

Bolin We urged our horses to a trot, though the added bouncing became uncomfortable for Patrick. Switching between walking and trotting...

Stella “No.” Eric adjusted the pack on his shoulders. “I won’t take you to where we entered this timeline.” He held up an arm before I...

Stella Eric sipped from the flask, then held it out to me. I accepted it and drank the tepid liquid, grimacing inwardly as I recalled...

Diedre My future husband strolled the garden with me, but his focus was elsewhere. If he wanted to spend time with me, why did he ignore...

Stella I glanced over my shoulder. Eric gave a reassuring nod. Behind him, wisps of sunrise kissed the horizon. Hints of soft pink...

Diedre My future husband was already king. This changed everything. I penned another letter to my father, explaining what happened and...

Stella Magic pulsed through me as I regained control over my body. I swallowed and pressed my tongue against my soft inner cheeks and the...

Diedre I didn’t sleep that night. My thoughts replayed Fernando’s death and the king’s threat over and over. Anya’s presence next to me...

Prince Fernando The clatter of footsteps sounded down the hall. I raised my tear-streaked face to meet them. The physician, Camille, fell...

Stella A deep weariness weighed down my bones. Darkness clouded my awaking mind, holding my eyelids closed. Hushed voices conversed to my...

Prince Fernando She tried to kill me. She deserved her sentence. The woman hated me. Saw me as nothing but an obstacle to her children....

Bolin A commotion in the hall tore me away from the next lesson I’d been preparing. I exited the study. What was going on? A man rushed...

Stella I dropped to my knees next to Fernando’s still body and pressed my ear to his sternum. No heartbeat. His chest didn’t rise and...

Prince Fernando Before I found Stella, some lesser lords arrived to congratulate me on my betrothal and to pitch their political ideals....

Bolin Three volumes waited beside me this morning, and I thumbed through the pages. A subtle hint of vanilla from the binding paste...

Diedre I shuddered when the king’s soft lips pressed against my skin and stifled my initial reaction to jerk away. Impress the prince and...

Bolin Stella wasn’t herself, and I suspected she’d overextended while healing the injured guard yesterday. She slumped in her chair...

Stella Sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned until the blankets tangled around my limbs. Tears I’d repressed since the prince left...